Education System in Norway

Primary Education

Education in Norway is compulsory for all children aged between 6 and 16 and paid for by the government. Barneskole primary school comprising grades 1 to 7 takes children from a first year spent playing games through to completion of a thorough academic grounding.

Middle Education

When pupils enter middle school known as ungdomsskole they move from getting school reports to receiving actual grades. These are important because they affect their right to enter secondary school. During grades 8 to 10 they may add one elective subject including a choice between European languages and Norwegian studies.

Secondary Education

Secondary school or Videregående skole provides two streams to follow. Students choose between general studies with a strong academic flavor, and vocational studies. Within both are many subsets of choices. Although this level of educational is non-mandatory, most young people choose to benefit from it.

Vocational Education

Norwegian employers, trade unions and vocational authorities have a good record of cooperation although the overall system does suffer from quality assurance failures and a surprisingly high dropout rate. There is considerable pressure from commerce and industry on the authorities to deliver a competent workforce, and strategic changes are ongoing.

Tertiary Education

There are 8 universities, 9 specialized colleges, 24 university colleges and a range of private universities in Norway. Applicants must either have completed their secondary schooling or be aged over 23 and be able to prove their level of competence.


The oldest Norwegian university is the University of Oslo established in 1811 and still the nation’s largest. Its faculties include dentistry, education, humanities, law, mathematics, medicine, natural sciences, social sciences and theology.